Driving mechanism and support therefor.



A. W. ALTORFER.

DRIVING MECHANISM AND SUPPORT THEREFOR.

APPLIOATIGN FILED DEO.17, 1909. 1,Q47,1 18, I Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

Witnesses In (re/1T0! mw 0 M 25% w iz? By a UNITED STATES. PATENTOFFICE.

ALPHEUS w. ALTonFnR, or ROANOKE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR rro rower. WASHINGMACHINE 00., OF PEORIA,'ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DRIVING MECHANISM AND SUPPORT THEREFOR.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912 Application filed December 17, 1909. Serial No.533,666. I

clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to a com' bined driving mechanism for awringer and a washing machine, and has for its object to provide anapparatus capable of containing or supporting, both a wringer and a Iwashing machine, and having a power mechanism for driving a washingmachine independently of or simultaneously with the wringer.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a. machine frame orsupport adapted to hold a washing machine and having movably mountedthereon a supplemental supporting frame adapted to sustain a wringermechanism, whereby the latter may be moved to different positions onsaid frame or support, the purpose being to operate the wringer to wringclothes from the washing machine directly into a rinsing tub and fromthere into a basket or other receptacle, all being placed on said frameor support, and the'washer and wringer mechanisms being driven by power.I

The invention has for. a futher object to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described, having power mechanism for driving a washingmachine and a wringer; said mechanism associated with clutch devices,whereby the wringer-may be intermittently connected with the power, andmanually I operated meansfor controlling the clutch device from oppositesides of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention, is to provide an apparatus supportinga movable frame to which may be attached a wringer; power devices; meansfor intermittently connecting the power with the wringer in differentpositions, and power devices for operating a washing machine.

The entire apparatus is so constructed that a washing machine may besupported on the same and the wringer moved into side member. carriedpulleys 6 and 7. The latter is. the "driving pulley for the shaft 4 andsaid :pulley may receive its power in any suitable proximity thereto,whereby the clothes may be put into the wringer direct from the washingmachine and when wrung deposited in a tub which may also be supported onsaid apparatus.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a mainframeadapted to support a washing machine, having a supplemental frameadapted to support a wringer mechanism and movably mounted on said mainframe, said supplemental frame being mounted on supportmg members orrunners which slide on said main frame and having a power memberconnecting said supporting members or runners, and clutch devicesmovable with said supplemental frame for operatively connectin saidwringer mechanism to'the main shaft.

That the invention 'may be more fully Figure 1, is a side elevation ofmy improved driving mechanism, and the apparatus supporting the same,and showing a washing machine, wringer and tub in dotted lines in theirrespective positions on the apparatus, when in use; Fi 2 is an endelevation looking at the rlght hand end of Fig. 1; also showing indotted lines the position of the driving Wheel of the washing machinewhen disconnected; Fig. 3 is a the direction of the arrow in saidfigure;

-Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in plan of certain clutch parts, and Fig.of Fig. 4.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout thefigures.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the machine support or mainframe preferably rectangular in form and having the longitudinal sidemembers 1, the end members 2, and the endsupporting members, or legs 3.

Extending longitudinally of the frame, and preferably located adjacentto and upon 5 is a side view the outside of one of the side pieces 1, isa driving shaft 4 which is journaled in suitable bearings 5 attached orsecured to said On one end of this shaft are 85 cross-section as thesame would appear if manner and from any suitable source, and

I while I have shown said pulley 7 as a single pulley, it is of courseunderstood that it may comprise a fast and a loose member on the shaft,with means for shifting the belt or other driving means. The pulley 6 isused.

- nated as A, and which may beof any approved construct-ion, so long asit has a driving wheel B carried on an operating shaft C, may be seatedwithin the frame of the apparatus, in manner shown, or supporteddirectly' on the frame of said apparatus.

To operate the wheel B of the machine, a belt Sfis employed, driven bypulley 6, and said belt travels cross-wise of the apparatus and aroundan idler pulley 9 carried by a bar 10 pivotally attached at 11 to theend member 2. A spring 12 which is attached at one end to the bar 10and. has its other end attached to the frame maintains the belt 8 inposition for frictionally engaging and, operating said wheel B of thewashing machine. Should it be found that this mode of driving was notsatisfactory, a second idler wheel 13 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,may be employed, which said wheel is carried by a bar 14, also shown indotted lines in Fig: 2, which is. secured to the frame.

In Fig. 2 the wheel B is in contact with the belt 8, and in dotted linesit is shown how the same may be raised from engagement with the belt tocut off the power from the washing machine. In connection with saidapparatus, I provide a supplemental frame for supporting a wringermechanism, which supplemental frame is so mounted as to be movable onsaid main frame to position said wringer at various positions relativeto the washing machine supported on one end of said main frame. Thissupplemental frame is preferably slidable ,on the mainframe andcomprises spaced uprights or standards and a head or top piece connectedthereto on which the wringer mechanisni is mounted. These uprights orstandaids are preferably positioned on opposite sides of said main frameand are supported on supporting members or runners which are slidable onsaid side members 2 of the main frame. Suitable driving mechanism isprovided for 'said wringer, including clutch devices slidable with saidsupplement al'frame on said shaft 4 and which may be clutched thereto atany position of said supplemental frame. These runners are connected bya brace member which extends beneath said side members and supports theactuating means for said clutch devices. A-

detailed description of this construction follows.

Slidable longitudinally on the upper'edges of the side members 1 of themain frame are the oppositely disposed supporting members or runners 15,which are connected by the brace, bar or plate 16 extending down alongside the side members 1 and then transvfersely across the main framebeneath the side members. The supporting members or runners support thesupplemental supporting frame which comprises the spaced standards oruprights 17 and the top or head piece 18, these members constituting thesupport for the wringer D, of any well known or approved construction,which may be attached or clamped thereto in any suitable manner. To oneof the rolls of said wringer is connected shaft E which carries a pulley19 or other suitable driving member which is operated through thefollowing connections.

The shaft 4 is preferably provided for a portion of its length with agroove or key way 20, see Figs. 4 and 5, and carried on the shaft andhaving a key fitting said key- Way is a slidable clutch member 21; alsoslidably carried but loose on said shaft 4 is a driving member in theform of a pulley or sheavewheel 22, having a'clutch face 23,

adapted to have a. clutch engagement with clutch member 21. This drivingmember is permanently operatively connected with the wringer mechanismto drive the same and this connection is preferably made as follows. Thepulley or sheave wheel 22 drives a belt 24 and said belt is carriedaround and operates the sheave wheel 19 of the wringer. To keep the belt24 taut, it is passed over an idler 25 carried by an arm 26,

adjustably attached to one of the uprights 17 of said supplementalframe. porting members or runners and the supplemental frame may bemoved longitudinally of the side members l'by grasping the uprights 17,but preferably by grasping either end of a rocking bar or operatinglever 27 extendin transversely and beneath the frame of holds 28 onitsopposite ends. The rocking bar or operating lever 27 passes throughbrackets or bearings 29 secured to the unthe apparatus and having bandThe supder side of the brace, bar or plate 16,'and on the side of theapparatus to which is attached the shaft 4, said bar or operating leverpasses up between the shaft 4 and verk tical portion of brace, bar orplate 16 and cross-wise of and engaging the clutch member 21 in mannerseen in Fig. 5. It will thus be seen that an operator, when on eitherside of the apparatus, may by grasping the hand-hold 28 of-bar oroperating lever 27 move the supporting'members or runners 15, brace, barorplate 16 and supplemental frame length-wise of the appa ratus and byrocking said bar or operating lever 27 may cause the clutch member 21 toengage or be disengaged from the clutch face 23 of the pulley or sheaveWheel 22. When moving the supplemental frame from the left to the rightlooking at Fig. l, the clutch member 21 bearing against the clutch .faceof the pulley or sheave wheel'22 will move said pulley along on theshaft, but to move the pulley 22, whenthe supplemental frame is movedfrom, the right to the left of the apparatus, looking at Fig. 1, Iprovide the plate 30 attached to the brace, bar or plate 16, and saidplate 30 has portions bearing across shaft 4 and against the pulley,22which will move said pulley, in the direction just indicated.

With a washing machine contained in or supported on the frameof theapparatus, as shown in Fig. l, the wringer mechanism on the supplementalframe may be moved to a position adjacent the washing machine, so thatthe clothes may be taken from the washing machine and passed through thewringer. 1f so, then a tub, designated as F, containing rinse water, maybe supported on the opposite end of the frame, to receive the clothes,then the wringer and supplemental frame may be moved. to the extremeleft end of the apparatus and the clothes again passed through thewringer and deposited in a basket G, or other suitable re ceptacle. Thesupplemental frame being an open frame, it is readily seen that it maybe passed over the tub F. With the clutch parts 21 and arranged as shownthe \vringer may be operated at will in several different positions onthe apparatus, and simultaneouly with or independently of the washingmachine.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and. desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. In a machine of the character described, in combinatioma mainframe,'a supplemental frame mounted on said main frame, saidsupplemental frame including spaced upright-s or standards positioned onopposite sides of said main frame, a head piece connected to saiduprights or stand-' ards, a shaft journaled .on said main frame andadapted to be driven from a suitable source of power, a drivingmechanism at the head end of said supplemental frame, a driving memberat the base of said supplemental frame, a permanent driving connectionbetween said driving mechanism and said driving 'm'ember,-means forintermittent-1y connecting said driving member with saidshaft, saidsupplemental frame being so mounted on said frame support that thesupplemental frame may be moved to position the driving mechanism on thesupplemental frame in different positions relative to'said framesupport, and the driving conscribed, in combination, a main frame, a

supplemental frame mounted on said main frame, said supplemental frameincluding spaceduprights or standards positioned on opposite sides ofsaid main frame, a head piece connected to said uprights or standards, ashaft journaled on said main frame and adapted to be driven from asuitable source of power, a driving mechanism at the head end of saidsupplemental frame, a driving member at the base of said supplementalframe and adjacent the lower end of one of its uprights or standards, abelt connection between said driving mechanism and said driving member,means for intermittently connecting said driving member with said shaft,said supplemental frame being so mounted on said frame support that thesupplemental frame may be moved to position the driving mechanism on thesupplemental frame in difierent positions relative to said framesupport, and the belt connection between the driving mechanism and Isaid driving-member being so arranged that the movement of thesupplemental frame,

will not disturb the relation of said belt connection.

3. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a mainframe, a supplemental frame mounted on said main frame, saidsupplemental frame including spaced uprights or standards positioned onopposite sides of said main frame, a head piece connected to saiduprights or stand ards, a shaft journaled on said main frame and adaptedto be driven ffom a suitable source of power, a driving mechanism at thehead end of said supplemental frame, a driving member ,at the base ofsaid supplemental frame, a permanent driving connection between saiddriving mechanism and and said driving member being so arranged that themovement of the supplemental frame will not disturb the permanentrelation of said driving connection.

4. In amachine of the character described, in combination, a main frame,a shaft journaled in said frame and adapted to be driven from a suitablesource of power, a

connections between the driving mechanism &

- supplemental frame including spaced lip-- supplemental frame includingspaced uprights or standards and a head or top piece connected thereto,a mechanism mounted on said supplemental frame, a driving member adaptedto be operatively connected with said shaft, a permanent connectionbetween said driving member and said mechanism, clutch devices forconnecting said driving member to said shaft, a lever arranged foroperating said clutch devices, said clutch devices, driving member andlever arrangement being movable with said supplemental frame.

5. Inamachine ofthe character described, in combination, amain frame, ashaft journaled in said frame and adapted to be driven from suitablesource of power, a

supplemental frame including spaced uprights or standards and a head ortop piece connected thereto, a mechanism mounted on saidsupplementalframe, a driving member loosely mounted on said shaft, a permanentconnection between said driving member and said mechanism, a clutchmember slidably keyed to said shaft and adapted to operatively connectsaid driving member to said shaft, said driving member and clutchmemberbeing movable with said supplemental frame.

6. Inamachme of the character descrlbed, 1n comblnat-ion, a main frame,a shaft journaled in .said frame and adapted to be driven from asuitable source of power, a supplemental frame including spaceduprights'or standards and a head or top piece connected thereto, amechanism mounted on said supplemental frame, a driving member looselymounted on said shaft, a permanent connection between said drivingmember and said mechanism, a clutch member slidably keyed to said shaftand adapted to operatively connect said driving member to said shaft, alever arrangement for operat- 'ng said clutch member, said drivingmemer, clutch member and lever arrangement being movablewith saidsupplemental frame.

7. lnamachine of the character described, in combination, a mainframe, ashaft journaled in said frame and adapted to be driven from .a suitable.source of power, a

rights or standards and a head or top piece connected thereto, amechanism mounted on said. supplemental frame, said shaft being providedwith a groove or keyway, a driving member loosely mounted on said shaft,permanent connections between said driving member and said mechanism, aclutch member slidably keyed in said groove 01' keyway in said shaft andadapted to operatively connect said driving member to said shaft, andmeans foroperating said clutch member, said driving member, clutchmemher and operating means being movable with said supplemental frame.

8. Inamachine of the character described, in combination, a main frame,a shaft journaled in said frame and adapted to be driven from a suitablesource of power, a supplemental frame including spaced uprights orstandards and a head or top piece connected thereto, a mechanism mountedon said supplemental frame, said shaft being provided With a groove orkeyway, a driving pulley loosely mounted on said shaft and provided witha clutch face, a clutch member having a clutch face corresponding to theclutch face on said driving pulley and slidably keyed in said groove orkeyway, means for operating said clutch member to connect said drivingmember to said shaft, a belt operatively connecting said pulley and saidmechanism, said driving pulley, clutch member and operating means beingmovable with said supplemental frame.

9. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a mainframe, a shaft journaled thereon, said shaft having a groove or keywayformed therein, a supplemental. frame slidably mounted on said mainframe and a mechanism on said supplemental frame, a pulley looselyslidable on said shaft and having an operative connection .with saidmechanism, said pulley having a clutch face, a clutch member slidablykeyed to said shaft and having a clutch. face corresponding to saidclutch face on the pulley, and a plate member adapted to move with saidsliding frame and bear against said pulley to move said pulley along theshaft in one direction when the supplemental frame is moved, said clutchmember serving to mo e the pulley along the operating shaft in the otherdirection when the sliding frame is moved. y

10. A machine or frame support including longitudinal side members andend supporting members, a supplemental frame movably mounted on saidsupport or frame and comprising oppositely disposed uprights orstandards, a header top piece connected thereto, supporting members orrunners engaging and movable along said side members, said supportingmembers or runners supporting said uprights or standards, and a bottombrace or connecting member connecting said runners below said sidemembers.

11.111 a machine'of the character described, in combination, a mainframe, a shaft journaled therein, a supplemental frame including spaceduprights or standards, a head or top piece connected thereto, amechanism on said supplemental frame, said supplemental frame beingmovable on said main frame, a driving member movable on saidsupplemental frame for moving said driving member and said clutchingmeans cluding longitudinal side members, a shaft journaled on said mainframe, a supple mental frame mounted on said main frame and includingspaced uprights or standards and a head or top piece connected thereto,a mechanism on said supplemental frame, supporting members or runnersengaging and movable along saidside members and supporting said spaceduprights and a bar or member connecting said runners and extendingtransversely of said frame beneath said side members.

14. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a mainframe including longitudinal side members, a shaft journaled on saidmain frame, a supplemental frame mounted on said main frame andincluding spaced uprights or standards and a head or top .piececonnected thereto,

a mechanism mounted on said supplemental frame, supporting members orrunners engaging and movable along said side members and supporting saidspaced uprights, clutch devices slidable along said shaft, connectionsbetween said clutch devices and said mechanism, and means on one of saidsupporting members or runners adapted to engage said clutch deviceswhereby when said supplemental frame is moved along said main frame saidclutch devices and connections will be moved therewith.

15. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a mainframe in cluding longitudinal side members, a shaft journaled on saidmain frame, a supple mental frame mounted on said main frame andincluding spaced uprights or standards and a head or top piece connectedthereto, amechanism mounted on said supplemental frame, supportingmembers or runners engaging and movable along said side members andsupporting said spaced uprights, a bar or member connecting saidrunners, clutch devices slidably mounted on said shaft, connectionsbetween said clutch devices and said mechanism, means on one of saidrunners to engage said clutch devices and move the same along the shaftwhen the supplemental frame is moved therealong, and means carried bysaid connectingbar or member to operate said clutch devices.

16. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a mainframe including longitudinal side members, a shaft journaled on saidmain frame, a supplemental frame mounted on said 11". ain frame andincluding spaced uprights or standards and a head or top piece connectedthereto, a mechanism mounted on said supplemental frame, sup ortingmembers or runners engaging an movable along said side members andsupporting said spaced uprights, a bar or member connecting saidrunners, clutch devices slidably mounted on said shaft, connectionsbetween said clutch devices and said mechanisms, means on one of saidrunners to engage said clutch devices and move the same along the shaftwhen the supplemental frame is moved therealong, and means carried bysaid connecting bar or member to operate said clutch devices, said meansincluding a lever having one end formed to actuate said clutch devicesand the other end formed for manipulation and located on the oppositeside of the main frame.

17. In a machine of the character de scribed, in combination, a mainframe including longitudinal side members, a shaft jo'urnaled on saidmain frame and positioned along one side thereof, a supplemental framemounted on said main frame and including spaced uprights or standardsand a head or top piece connected thereto, a mechanism on saidsupplemental frame, supporting members or runners engaging and movablealong said side members and supporting said spaced uprights, clutchdevices movable along said shaft, connections between said clutchdevices and said mechanism, and means movable with said supplementalframe to operate said clutch devices.

18. In a machine .of the character de- "scribed, in combination, a mainframe including longitudinal side members, a shaft journaled on saidmain frame and positioned along one side thereof, a supplemental framemounted on said main frame and including spaced uprights or standardsand a head or top piece connected thereto, a mechanism on saidsupplemental frame, supporting members or runners engaglng and movablealong said side members and harbor member and havi g n n posihaving theother end positioned on the 0ptioned to actuate said clutch devices andposite side of said frame for manipulation.

19. A machine support or frame, including longitudinal side members, endsupporting members, and a floor or bottom mounted on said side members,a supplemental frame mounted on said machine support or frame, saidsupplemental frame including uprights or standards located at oppositesides of the machine support and a head piece connecting saiduprights orstandards, supporting members or runners, said uprights or standardsbeing mounted thereon, said supporting members or runners being adaptedto' slide on said side members. v

p 20. A machinesupport or frame, including longitudinal side members,end supporting members, a floor or bottom mounted on said side members,a supplemental frame mounted on sald machine support or frame,

said supplemental frame including uprights or standards located atopposite sides of the machine support and a head piece connecting saiduprights or standards, supporting members or runners, said uprights orstandards being mounted thereon, said supporting members or runnersbeing provided with bearing means adapted to "rest and move upon saidside members.

21. A machine support or frame including longitudinal side members, endsupporting members, a floor or bottom mounted on said side members, asupplemental frame mounted on said machine support or frame, saidsupplemental frame including uprights or standards and a head piececonnecting said uprights or standards,supporting members or runners,said uprights or standards being mounted thereon, said supportingmembers or runners being adapted to slide on said side members, a'bracemember connecting said supporting members or runners below said bottom.

22. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a mainframe, a shaft thereon, means for operating said shaft,- a driving wheelon said shaft, an idler wheel mounted'on said frame, flexible drivinconnections between said driving wheel and idler wheel, drivingmechanism slidably mounted on said frame, and means adapted to have aclutch connection with said shaft for actuating said driving mechanism.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

ALPHEUS W. ALTORFER. Witnesses:

S. H. ALTORFER, E. G. MINGER.

